Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-10-06
USES FOR BIRCH BARK.
Some Of the Really Charming 9hinGs
That Ladies' Can Make from It

! some OF the Really Charming ShinE1
That Ladies' Can Make from 1t.
There are so many pretty things can
be made from birch bark that it is
strange it is not more popular for dec
Grafton. The gray birch bark is some
| times used, but it Is not as nice in any
way as the white. Most people who
have spent any time in the country
know how 70 remove the bark from
the tree. but for those who do not
know it is very easy thing to do if
the directions are followed. Select Il
half-grown tree, as from too young a
tree the bark does not peel rs easily.
and the layers are hard to divide. and
too old tree is usually so knotty that
it is almost impossible to get a smooth
| piece of any size. for the bark will tear
/ III being removed from the tree where
there are knots. After selecting your
tree. with sharp pen-knife make q
perpendicular slit, any length you
| wish. taking care there are no knots in
the piece You wish to remove. loosen
ing one side at top and bottom. and if
a large piece it is well to loosen Il little
along the entire length. rs very large
pieces are liable to split in the center
if not loOsened. Take firm hold of
top and bottom, and with very little
exertion on your part the piece can be
removed, leaving broad. bare circle
around the trunk or limb of the tree.
The work of dividing the layers should
| be done us soon after removal from the
tree rs convenient, rs the longer it is
let remain without being separated
the harder it will be to accomplish. and
| the layers will not be as smooth and nice
as if separated earlier These layers
are Of very pretty shades. being pure
white, cream-yellow, and some deli
cate shades of pink. and make very
nice ornamental and useful articles cf
| decoration.
Many people while away for the sea-
son are fond of using smooth sheets Of
bark for note paper, sending them to
their friends as souvenirs of their sum-
MGR in the country. Envelopes are al
so made of it. using paper ones for
patterns. and are very unique. a
pretty whisk-brOOm holder is made b.
cutting out of cardboard two pieces
the shape of the broom, cover with
smooth pieces of bark, and on one
side IN each corner paste group OF
tiny ferns and in the center bunch
of pressed autumn leaves and ferns,
oil, ~,
some bright shade of ribbon. At each
upper corner place bow of the ribbon
Sew a small brass ring to the center OF
the back piece next the wall. and sus.
pend the holder by loop of ribbon, with
pretty bow dropping over the nail from
which it hangs. Line with any ma
terial you like. A spool box is made
by cutting a circle of cardboard about
the size of the bottom of Il collar box,
glue around this perpendicular rim
about two inches deep. cover with
bark, around the lower part of rim.
where it joins the bottom, tie band
of narrow ribbon; line with pretty silk
and sew around the top ruching of
autumn leaves.
Birch bark pictures are very pretty
for home decoration. Take nice
smooth sheet of bark any size desired,
and fasten firmly with mucilage to a
piece of thin cardboard; decorate with
the brush or arrange pressed autumn
leaves and ferns upon it in any way
desired. Pretty frames for pictures of
this kind are made by cutting from
thin, unplaned boards pieces the size
desired. and que together. At each
corner, or, if the frames are large, ut |
equal distances apart, arrange groups |!
of tiny acorns in their cups and glue
firmly to the frames, and gid the
whole. The unplaned wood when
gilded gives the appearance of rough
gilt. Cornucopias are nice made of
bark bound with ribbon decorated
with autumn leaves and ferns and filled
with dried grasses. Place at the points
pretty bows OF ribbon, to the ends of
which attach tiny gilded acorns in
their cups. Another pretty receptacle
for dried grasses is q round box any
depth and width desired. covered with
bark. Ornamented in front /, little
above half way with bunch of pine
or hemlock burrs glued on firmly, var
ished or bronzed, or both. At the bot
tom of the bunch is fastened broad
satin ribbon. The width of the ribbon
depends upon the size of the box. A
pretty ornament for the front of this
box instead of the burrs is a small
bunch of dried grasses tied with bow
of ribbon. The burrs at the ends of
the ribbon may be fastened by small
tacks. These are only
few of the things for which birch bark
can be used. and as it serves the purpose
of perforated cardboard, the making of
one article will suggest the making of
BudgeE.
Once when Ignatius Donnelly was
political speech in Mime
SOfa some ono hurled head IF ooh